How bad are you? What evil thing did you do this week? Did you bomb a village of people, or massacre a family who was out for a family picnic? I’ve been thinking a lot about evil this week, especially since the October 7th killing of helpless Jews along the Gaza border. There are many, many layers of evil found in this terrorist group who lives on the doorsteps of the nation Israel.
how bad must i be to be evil?
My heart breaks for the Jewish people, but that is not the reason why I am writing to you this week. My thoughts are more localized, more personal. They are the thoughts which are often overshadowed by the evil things that are done in this chaotic world. Most people would not find anything remotely similar between the evil that some have committed for their god and the evil that resides in my own heart. How bad must I be to qualify as an evil man? John Bunyan, the writer of Pilgrim’s Progress, had insight into this question.
whoever comes
Jesus said in John 6:37, All that the father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. Bunyan also wrote Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ where he recognizes the power of forgiveness. It doesn’t matter how sinful the heart of the individual is, he will not turn anyone away. Bunyan was fully aware of this when he wrote the following conversation between an individual dealing with their sin and Jesus:
a conversation with jesus
No, wait. We say, cautiously approaching Jesus. “You don’t understand. I’ve really messed up. In all kinds of ways.”
“I know.” He responds.
“You know most of it, sure. Certainly, more than what others see. But there’s much down inside me that is hidden from everyone.”
“I know it all.”
“Well. The thing is it isn’t just my past. It’s my present too.”
“I understand.”
“But I don’t know if I can break free of this, anytime soon.”
“That’s the only kind of person. I’m here to help”.
“The burden is heavy. And heavier all the time.”
“Then let me carry it.”
“It’s too much to bear.”
“Not for me.”
“You don’t get it? My offenses aren’t directed to each other. They’re against you.”
“Then I am the one most suited to forgive them.”
“But the more ugliness in me you discover, the sooner you’ll get fed up with me.”
“Whoever comes to me. I will never cast out.”
come, he’s waiting
We need to come to an understanding that we are sinful people, and sometimes those sins become burdensome and overwhelming. But we have a Savior. We have someone that we can go to that understands our hearts and our situations. It doesn’t matter if we are a terrorist or just ordinary sinners because: the heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) No one understands that better than Christ Himself, Savior, Friend, and Counselor. Today, come to Jesus, He’s waiting for you!
For further reading: https://www.amazon.com/Come-Welcome-Jesus-Christ-Bunyan and https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Lowly-Christ-Sinners-Sufferers
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